Al Ahli Capitalise as Malkiya Keep Pressure On

Crucial moments reshape matchday five NPL standings

Matchday 5 of the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League saw drama unfold across two tight encounters as the race in the middle of the table continues to take shape. Al Ahli were comfortable 2-0 winners over Al Shabab at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Stadium, while Al Malkiya edged past A’ali by a single goal at Khalifa Sports City.

Al Ahli’s win was shaped by a pivotal first-half moment and two decisive penalties. The turning point came in the 37th minute when Al Shabab’s Hussain Al Qassab was shown a straight red card after VAR deemed that, while avoiding Fabrice Onana’s sliding tackle, he left his trailing foot up and caught Onana’s face intentionally. Down to ten men, Al Shabab went on to defend with discipline and frustrated Al Ahli for long stretches.

But 20 minutes left, a careless back pass from midfield proved costly. The loose ball sent Abdulla Al Hashash racing clear on goal, forcing goalkeeper Mahmood Al Ajmi to come out and bring him down inside the box. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and Al Hashash made no mistake, sending Al Ajmi the wrong way to break the deadlock.

Al Ahli doubled their advantage deep into stoppage time when another penalty was awarded, this time for a handball inside the area. Al Hashash stepped up again and slotted home confidently to seal the 3 points and his brace. The result moves Al Ahli up to sixth on seven points, while Al Shabab sit eighth with five.

At Khalifa Sports City, Al Malkiya continued their steady rise with a 1-0 win over A’ali. The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute when Hassan Hilal’s free-kick into a crowded area was cleverly redirected into the path of Sayed Hashim Isa, who slotted home calmly from close range. The win pushes Al Malkiya up to second place on 11 points, level with leaders Muharraq, while A’ali drop to ninth with five.

The Nasser bin Hamad Premier League will now pause for 10 days and resume on October 30.